Electrical contact target device and a missile



J. TYLLYER May24, 1938-.

ELECTRICAL CONTACT TARGET DEVICE AND A MISSILE Filed Oct. 31, 1956 Patented May 24, 1938 PATENT cerise ELECTRICAL CONTACT TARGET DEVICE ANDI A MISSILE Jack Tyllyer, Hove, England Application October 31, 1936, Serial No. 108,664 In Great Britain October 31, 1935 9 Claims.

'Ihis invention is concerned with the provision of an amusement device in the form of a target and a harmless missile to be projected thereat, the target having a number of spiked prongs standing out from its surface and in circuit with a source of current and an indicating device such as a signal lamp, the arrangement being such that when a missile of a soft plastic nature impales itself on the spikes the circuit to the indicating device is completed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a missile with at least the leading end of a permanently soft plastic nature but serving as a conductor for bridging the circuit between the projecting spiked contact prongs when impaled thereon. y

A further object of the invention is toprovide an amusement device simulating the vgame of darts and which can be played indoors without the disadvantage of dart points injuring walls or furniture.

The invention, therefore, consists in the provision of a missile preferably in the form of a dart having its leading end composed of a plastic mass comprising a commercial soft modeling compound of lasting plasticity rendered electrically conductive by impregnation with metal fibers. In order to secure better and more sure electrical conductivity, the. metal fibers are preferably of wire wool.

In order that it may be clearly understood and more readily carried into effect, the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate, respectively, a part sectional elevation and an elevation of a missile according to the present invention in the form of a dart; While Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating the arrangement of contact spikes and a scoring signal lamp of a target board for use with the device according to the present invention.

As shown with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the missile in the form of a dart has the body part 4, tail 5 and the flights 6 provided in the same way as an ordinary spiked dart, but the leading end of the body portion 4, instead of being provided with the spike for sticking into a board or like surface, is provided with a recess l for receiving a plug of plastic but conductive material with an enlarged end 8. If necessary a binding tape or like member 9 may be provided to prevent undue spreading of the enlarged end 8.

A plastic conductive material convenient for use with a missile according to the invention is provided by working up apiece of the material known under the trade name Plasticine, or any commercial modelling compound which remains plastic, with conductive material, such as wire wool or metal fibres. It is found that such a material may be used over long periods without becoming disintegrated, and if it eventually does become somewhat misshapen by continued use, it can readily be lingered back into shape. In practice it will suffice if the metal fibres are, so to speak, bound up in a coating of plastic material or are held in position by a wad of it.

The board illustrated very diagrammatically in Figure 3 comprises a number of spike members 15 preferably arranged in rows, some or all of the rows being in an electrical circuit which is open as between adjacent spikes or series of spikes; for example in the part of the board illustrated the spikes l0 are all in series with the positive lead, while the spikes Il are in series with the negative lead from a source of current, and when the head of plastic conductive material impales itself upon the spikes, the light I2 is illuminated. Signal lights are arranged in circuit with each scoring area of conductor prongs, and preferably there will be in the neighborhood of' the signal light I2 a numberv to indicate the appropriate score for a successful throw.

What I claim then is:

1. A missile having a leading end, a plastic mass thereon and comprising a commercial soft plastic modeling compound, and metal fibers interspersed in the compound and rendering same electrically conductive.

2. A missile having a leading end, a plastic mass therein and comprising a commercial soft plastic modeling compound, and wire wool carried by the compound and rendering same electrically conductive.

3. A missile in the form of a dart having a leading end, a plastic mass carried thereby and comprising a commercial soft plastic modeling compound, and metal fibers impregnating the come 45 pound and rendering same electrically conductive.

4. A missile in the form of a dart having a leading end, a plastic mass carried thereby and comprising a commercial soft plastic modeling 50 compound, and wire wool in the compound for rendering same electrically conductive.

5. A missile having a body part formed with a recess, a plug of plastic material carried in the recess and having an enlarged end, and metal bers interspersed throughout the compound for rendering same electrically conductive.

6. A missile having a body part formed with a recess, a plug of plastic material carried in the recess and having an enlarged end, and metal bers interspersed throughout the compound for rendering same electrically conductive, said bers being positioned in the compound to resist disintegration of said compound.

7. A missile having a body part formed with a recess, a plug of plastic material carried in the recess and having an enlarged end, metal fibers interspersed throughout the compound for rendering same electrically conductive, and a binding member carried by the body part adjacent the end thereof having the recess and preventing displacement of the compound.

8. A missile having a body part formed with a recess, a plug of plastic material carried in the recess and having an enlarged end, and metal wool interspersed throughout the compound for rendering same electrically conductive.

9. A missile having a body part formed with a recess, a plug of plastic material carried in the recess and having an enlarged end, metal Wool interspersed throughout the compound for rendering same electrically conductive, and a binding member carried by the body part adjacent the end thereof having the recess and preventing displacement ofthe compound.

JACK TYLLYER. 

